The political crisis in Rivers State took a fresh turn on Friday when lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, cautioned Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the leadership of the State Independent Electoral Commission over the 2025 Appropriation Bill and the conduct of the October 5, 2024 local government election.
While the state legislature specifically said it would address Fubara’s refusal to represent the 2025 appropriation bill to the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly at the appropriate time, it threatened to invoke the spirit and letters of a section of the Nigerian Constitution against the RSIEC Chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, and the state electoral body’s commissioners.
The lawmakers had on Wednesday issued the RSIEC chairman and his commissioners a 48-hour ultimatum to appear before it to, among others, explain the conduct of the October 5, 2024, election with funds that were not approved by the state legislature.
However, following the failure of the RSIEC leadership to appear before the House, the lawmakers extended the ultimatum by 72 hours.
The House resolved that the new date was to enable the chairman and other officials to appear before it on Monday, March 10, 2025.
The lawmakers had in two separate letters given the state governor an ultimatum to submit a new list of commissioner-nominees and present the 2025 budget.
The governor had in December 2024 presented N1.188tn as a budgetary estimate for the 2025 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly led then by Victor Oko-Jumbo.
At the lawmakers’ plenary on Friday, Amaewhule, said, “Before we adjourn, let me say that the leader of the House informed me that the letter we sent to the governor, particularly the one that has to do with the resolution asking him to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill, was properly delivered to the governor.
“It is also there in the print media. Again, the office of the Clerk and the Chairman, House Committee on Business and Rules, has also confirmed to this Assembly that the letter addressed to the governor for him to submit the list of his nominees for appointment as commissioners into the Rivers State Executive Council following the fact that 19 of those in the executive council are impostors who are not commissioners but parading themselves (as such).
“That particular letter has been delivered to the governor and the governor has not responded to this Assembly.
“Honourable members, having deliberated on this matter, the House has taken legislative notice of the refusal of the governor to bring the 2025 Appropriation Bill and of course to submit his list of nominees for appointment as commissioners given that he does not have the 19 commissioners which he is parading in the State Executive Council.
“On that note, members have also resolved that we will take appropriate action as our response to the governor’s refusal to abide by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution most specifically Section 192 in the case of the rest of the commissioners and Section 195 sub-section of the 1999 Constitution as it has to do with the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.”
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the media aide to the Speaker, Martins Wachukwu, titled, ‘Rivers State Assembly opens another window for RSIEC chairman and commissioners to appear before the House’ was later sent to newsmen on Friday.
The statement reads, “The House resolved to give another opportunity to the chairman and commissioners of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to appear before it to explain the commission’s actions and inactions in the purported conduct of the ill-starred October 5, 2024 local government elections in the state with unbudgeted expenditures.
“And to further furnish the House where the commission expects to generate funds to conduct its proposed election.”
Debating on the information, the statement indicated that members spoke ‘glowingly’ of the integrity of the Chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, being a retired Judge of the Rivers State High Court and urged the House to give him another opportunity to appear before the House.
Commenting on the information before putting the question, the Speaker (Amaewhule), said the House had taken legislative notice of the refusal of Fubara to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill, and the submission of the list of commissioner-nominees to the House; adding that the House will address it squarely at the appropriate time.
Earlier, Major Jack had, with the leave of Mr Speaker presented the Certified True Copy of the recent judgment of the Supreme Court on the state political logjam to the House for records.
Don’t Impeach Fubara – Muslim Clerics
A group, Concerned Muslim Imams, has warned the Rivers State House of Assembly against the rumoured move to impeach Fubara.
This came after a recent plenary session where the reinstated 27 pro-Wike lawmakers outlined alleged constitutional infractions committed by the governor.
Two officials of the CMI, Sheikh Bawa and Sheikh Ibrahim, said this in a statement they jointly signed on Friday.
The Muslim clerics expressed fear that any attempt to impeach the governor could disrupt the peace enjoyed by the people of Rivers State and have severe economic consequences for both the state and the country.
In the seven-paragraph statement, the Imams urged the lawmakers to avoid actions that could lead to anarchy, loss of lives, and destruction of property, including those belonging to Muslims in the state.
I’ve Rivers People’s Support – Fubara
In another development, Governor Fubara reiterated the commitment of his administration to advancing the well-being of Rivers people.
The governor expressed happiness that the people of his state were supporting him and his administration because he was effectively piloting the ship of the state.
Fubara spoke at the inauguration of the Rivers State Fire Service Sub-Station at Rumuodomaya in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state on Friday.
The governor pledged that with the improved status, the fire service station would offer prompt response to combating fire emergencies in order to safeguard lives and the property of residents of the Rumuodomaya community, Obio/Akpor and environs.
He expressed appreciation to the people of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area for their unwavering support and assurances given to his administration.
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